Not making excuses for him but I do think the discourse has changed due to all the $$$ involved with the players now. I don't think the coaches feel they need to white knight for their players when the players are in some cases making $1m/yr.
So i think the scribes have changed their approach too. They make WAY less than the 21 yr olds they cover. The 21 yr old might make 20x-40x what the beat reporter is making. So I think some of them are like Fuck It, I'm calling this player out. And I think it's fair.
I think comparing what these guys said during Bill Callahan or Bo Pelini era is kind of useless. It's a different world now.